Mining machine



April 6 1926.

H. L. GROW MINING 'MACHINE Filed Dec. 1e, 1924 :s SheetsLsheet 1 INVENTOR EllGroz/g Y B /L/,Mw 2m/,

A TTOR NE YS H. L. GROW MINING MACHINE April: 6 192s. 1,579,704

- Filed Dec. 16, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNEssEs '5 IN VEN TOR ,g Graag A TTORNE YS April 6 1926.

H. L. GRQw MINING MACHINE Filed Deo. 16, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 adorna! ofiFairbanks, Territory ot Patented Apr. 6, 1926.

retailer HARRY LUTE GROW, or FAraBANKs, TERRITORY or ALASKA.

MINING MACHINE.

Application filed December 16, 1924. Serial No. 756,300.

To all whom t 'may concern: v i Be it known that I, HARRY LUTE GROW, a citizen of the United States, and resident Alaska, have inuseitul Improveof which the folvented 'certain new and ments in 'il/lining Machines, lowing is a specification.

My' invention relates to improvements in mining machines andit consists "oi the con-L 'structionsf combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a. small but sturdy machine tor `facilitating various mining and cutting operations, for example, drift mining, tunneling, open cut excavating, loading, roadbnilding, etc.

A further object ot' the invention is to provide a machine tor the purpose described having a discharge conveyor which may ne turned laterally independently 'of the rest ot' the machine. v

Another object of the inventionis to `provide a mining machine in which all ofthe important parts are mounted upon amain r base-or frame which in turn can be revolver upon-a turn table carried by a truck, there byv permitting the adjustment ofthe elevator andvconveyor atvarious angles in Vres11 ecrI tothe truck.

Another object of the invention'is to proi vide in .combination with Ythe elevator suol means as can be forced into the surfacek in back, to act as a chock to bracevthemachine when the elevator enters the material to te loaded. Y Y Other objectsand advantages will appear in the following*specification reference Vbeing had Ato 1 the accompanying drawings, Which-'- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved mining machine.

Figure Q is a detail vertical section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and illustrating the turn table structure.

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the movable turn table plate. l i Figure 4t Vis a side elevation ot the ini proved machine taken ronithe'side opposite that in Figure 1. i Y

Figure 5 is a Vdetail 'front elevation of the excavating elevator.V

Figure 'isf a detailsection on the line G-olt Figure'. i l

Figure 7 is a lon `itudinal section of one ofthe el'evatorchoc s.

y has longitudinal Y and provi Dfi elevating operations Jtroni place on the track.

rable plate V16 receives Figure 8 is a detail cross section on the line 8 8Y of Figure 7.

Figure 9 isl a plan view' of the mining machine. y

Figure 10 is a detail side elevation illus-- trating afrall clamp.

Figure' 11 isla cross section on the line `1.1--11jot Figure 10.

'In carrying outthe invention provision l ismade of a truck, Vcomposed generally ofil longitudinal channels 1, axles 2,"Wheels' 3 and any appropriatey arrangement of braces to complete the truck. The Wheels ofthe truck `run upon rails 4t, and these arelaid Y needed sothat the mining ma as may be be advanced as the cutvinchine may creases. v v

A turn table vplate 5 (Fig. 2,) has depending'iianges 6 through which bolts 7' pass to secure the plate to the channels 1.7 This plate assists inl the bracing'of the' truck. It'includes a race or bearing surface@ upon ings are carried by rings 10.- l

' Formed on the plate 5 isa boss'll which carries a kingbolt .12 yframe or base is held inplace uponrthe truck. The vmain frame, lil-:e the. truck 1, channels v13.` These are bolted or otherwise secured atlttoupstanuing flanges 15r (FigsQ'and ,3) vot' .themovable turn table plate 16. Thisplate yrevolves upon the rollers9, therebeinga suitable race 17 to provide a proper bearing surface.

A bearing plate 18, secured upon the main .'rame, both conceals the turn table plate'ltv Vdes a bearing tor a drive gear comprising spur teeth 19 and 2O respectively. The main frame is capable of turning in its entirety upon the-'truck 1', this together with all o't its carried parts. This provides theadvantage of directingthe cuttingand practically all radial positions While the truck lremainsfin Afboss'Ql on the mov- Y,

the bolt'12 andthus assists in keeping the main frame centered on the roller bearings 9.

A yoke 22 supports the lower shaft-.2S ot a conveyor. lThe yoke is heldin place upon the double gear by the-head of the kingflbolt but is capable ot' turning independently4 of v.large double kand Vbeveled ythe double gear-so that theconveyormay be ,which the roller bearings 9 run. These bearby which the jmain A ing other parts. The conveyor consists of a slatted belt 24 which runs over rollers 25 at the extremities, one being carried by the shaft 23, the other by a shaft 26 at the free vend of the conveyor. The upper strand of the belt traverses a trough 9.7.

A cable yoke 28 supports the conveyor. The bight of this yoke passes over a sheave 29. This sheave is stationarily mounted on. top of the machine. No adjustment of the discharge trough or stacker 27 is intended. vMounted on top of the machine is a fixed cross piece 6l in which the Unthreaded end of a screw shaft 62 has swivel mounting. The cross piece 6l has apertures for a pair of guide rods 63 which extend forward and have permanent fastening in the head piece The fastening of the guide rods 63 includes a collar 65 which in each case abuts one side of the head piece and washer and pin connections 66 and 67 securing the guide rods on the opposite side of the head piece. The adjacent ends of the guide rods terminate in eyes 68 to which the cables 50 are attached. rlhe screw shaft 62 has threaded engagement with the head piece 64 and it carries a head 69 on the free end. rlhis head has a plurality of openings 70 to receive a wrench bar for the purpose of turning' the screw shaft and moving the head piece back and forth.

Situated on one end of the conveyor drive shaft 23 is a large beveled gear 30 which meshes with the beveled gear 2O of the double gear. This double gear receives its driving power from an electric motor 3l whence it is transmitted by the following gear train. A pinion 32 on the motor shaft drives a pinion 33 on a counter-shaft 34. This shaft carries a worm pinion 35 which meshes with a worm gear 36.` The shaft 37 of this gear carries a spur pinion 38 which meshes with a spur gear 39 on the elevator drive shaft 40. The opposite end of this shaft carries a pinion 4l (Fig. 4) which drives a pinion 42 on the upright shaft 43. This shaft carries a spur pinion 44 which meshes with the spur gear 19 and thus drives the double gear.

Mounted upon the main frame 13 is a steel plate supporting` frame 45. This frame appears like and functions much on the order of a clutch. It provides a support for the shafts 37 and 4() of the aforesaid gear train (Fig. l) as well as for the sheave 2i) and its associated parts. Moreover, it protects the members mentioned of the gear train from being fouled with dirt from the elevator at the front of the machine. This elevator consists of buckets 47 so linked together as to form a chain, a chain as such not being necessary.

These buckets are 'specially made for digging purposes and to this end they are made quite sharp, like claws, so that even quite hard material can be loosened and carried away. rllhe elevator buckets run over properly shaped wheels upon the upper and lower shafts 40 and 48 such as shown. at 49 upon the lower shaft 48 in Figure 6.

The cables 50 supports the elevator' by being attached to the side plate 5l. rlhe shafts 40 and 48 are journaled on these side plates. The elevator extends up into the hood 4.5, and it is by virtue of being so dis posed in respect to the hood that the gears of the aforesaid train are protected 'to a large extent. The cables 50 run over pulleys 52 which are suitably mount-ed on the hood.

It has been explained that these cables are attached to the eyes 68 of the guide rods 63. It is by this means that the cables and consequently the elevator 5l, are supported. Adjustments of the elevator are made by turning the screw shaft 62 and thereby movingl the head piece 64 back and forth.

Means is provided for bracing the mining machine when the excavator buckets 47 of the elevator impact the material to be loaded. These means comprise tubular bars 53 which are preferably non-circular in cross section. Split clamps 54 receive the bars. One of the clamps is shown in detail in Figures 7 and 8.

The clamp 54 is secured to the elevator side 5l'by means of a shouldered and headed bolt 55. The opposite side ofthe clamp carries a threaded nipple 56 upon which, when the "lamp wheel 57 is screwed, a clamping action on the rod 53 takes place securing the latter in any particular adjustment. The clamping action is also exerted against the head of the bolt and inasmuch as the head of the bolt presses against the rod 53 (Figure 8) the rod is at once held in a particular angular position. The bolt itself is fixed so that it cannot turn.

On the lower extremity of the rod 53 is a shoe 58 which has heavy spikes 59 for the purpose of entering and grippingl the ground. lt is readily seen that when the bars 53 and shoes 58 are fixed in position,

provision is made of an effective chock which prevents any back motion of either the elevator 5l or the miningl machine. The checks operate most effectively in respect to the elevator 5l, and although it will have a bracing action on the mining machine itself` yet too much is not to be expected. tauitable blocks may therefore be litted behind the wheels 3 in actual practice to supple nient the checks. The shoes 58 are pivot/ed to the respective bars at 60.

The Oper/,ation The electric motor 3l furnishes driving power for both the conveyor 27 and the ele vator 5l. This power istransmitted by gear train partly illustrated in Figure 'l ies -llO

and completed in Figrh The'elevator 51 is driven Vfrom the shaftll() whichA carries gears 39. and .41 forming partof they train. rlhis train terminates at'the `spur pinion 44 which .n -eshes with and drives the spur gear 19 of the largefdouble gear.

Bearing for the double gearis furnished byf the platel8 `(Fig.v 2).'on the main frame Turning of "this gear causes the'operation ofthe conveyor by engagementof'the beveled gear 30 ivith the-v gear. 20. ofthe double gear. The main frame 13 `andfall of itscarried parts maybe.bodily'turned upon the rollers 9 of the turntable 16 (Fig. 2). This permits ofadj'usting. the conveyor and elevator at various radial'V positions inv respect to the trucks l which for this purpose may be regarded as. fired?k Independent adjustmentof the conveyor 27. may be madexby merely-.turning the. yolre 22' uponthe. lringfbolt: 12.. Uponturning the conveyor the gear f SOfwill simply. move bach and forth in reference to th'egear .20 Without interfering with .the revolution of the last'gear.

The mining` machineis advanced vinto the material by pushing thetruck l, andas the mining machine advancesihe. excavator buckets 27 of the elevator4 ivillrdig in and elev.=.te.t.lie. lmaterial tothe pointof discharge above. the conveyor27. The cutting'edges ofthe buckets 27. arel purposely: made sharp so that hard for frozen material'may be removed quite easily. As already stated in .the description above thezminingi-machine is of purposes, for eX- adaptable to azlvariety ample, .ditch digging, vroad .1 building,` excavating 4and loading, tunneling7 etc.

Another feature. in favor ofthe machine is its comparativel .smallsizef In practice the. machinesivillbe less than five feet in height and a' approximately seven... feet long. rthe truck landframel?) ,ivillbe as .short as possible, and altogetherthe machine .will be quite. coinpactgthereby readily adapting it to the particular uses specified.'

It should be mentioned'lin.conclusion that provision is also' made foi holding the trucks l from `movinglaaclrivard on the rails rlhis provision is acrail clamp. 7l (Figs. ltl'and. li) consisting' ofVT afpair of pilates secured by. arbolt 72 and fitted y'ivithajnut fhaving awvre'nch handleA T4. Theends F5 and 7Go-fthe plates are formed to properly/engage the head of the rail, whereupon the-nut 73 'is tightened by. means-fof vthe Wrench handle tosecure theraibclamp in place. y `f Y lVhile. the construction. and arrangement of the improved miningmachine` as herein described and claimed is that of a `generally preferred form, obviously modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the, invpnfinn or the scope of the claims.

`frein material escaping from the elevator.

' the dichai'ge end n .and inounteduipon.'the last shaft,.means mounted on top ofthe hood supporting tne- .ried-by each side plate` upon which' each .clamp is mounted,'. the. head of each bolt bearing againstv the. respective bar, and

rmeansycn the nipples including hand Wheels for tightening the clamps both upon the bolt and againstthe bars to holdithem in adjusted positions.

2. A mining machine having a main frame, a supporting frame mounted on top Y -thereothaving a shape 'to define a hood, an'- elevator hai'ing the discharge end extending into the 'hood,{and driving means for theelevator including atrain ofigearing situated 'outside of thehood thereby being protected ..A mining machine havingfa` main frame, a supporting frame carried thereby defining ahood, aV train of? gears situated outside ofthe. hood. includingA gearshafts, one. of said shafts extending. through [the hood from side to side, ali-elevator having the discharge endez-:tended into the* hood and mounted upon thelast shaft, .and means mounted on. top ofthe hood supportingthe free endfof thefelevator'.

et.. A mining. machine. having' a. main frame, a supporting frame carried thereby Adefining a hood, a train of gears .situated outside oftheV hood including-.gear shafts, onev of said shafts extending throughthe hood from :side to side, anelevatorhaving atended .int-o L the hood.

free end .ofthe elevator, and .means carried` 'by the elevator adjacent to the freeend for gripping the. ground, bracing. theA elevator and augmenting said supportingineans.

v5. A. mining machine having; a: main frame, supporting. means :mountedl thereon including a hood, .rconveyorpdrive shaft extending across the hood from side to` side yand projectingat` both ends, an elevator' having' one end, extended into the' hood` and mounted uponzsaid shaft for driving7 a .tr-.iin of :driving vgears includinga gear on one end ofthe sliaftand a pinion at the other, aconveyorhaving a shaft situatedimmediately in front of the hood, and gearing ..driven from saidvpinion for operating the conveyor as the elevator is driven.

6. A mining machine having a main frame, supporting means mounted thereon constitu-ting a hood, a combined spur and .beveled gear journalled upon the main kil ino Y frame, a conveyor lnwing a drive shaft, a bevel gear carried by said shaft meshing with the aforesaid beveled gear, a yoke by which the conveyor is supported at one end upon said combined gear, an elevator drive shaft jouinallcd upon the hood and having each end extending therebeyond, an elevator having the discharge end extending into the hood aud mounted uponV said drive shaft to discharge into the conveyor, and common driving means including` a gear on one end of the elo lvator shaft and a pinion on the other, and drive means for transmitting' motion from said pinion to the spur teeth of said combined gear.

7. A mining' machine having a main frame, supporting means mounted thereon constituting a hood, a combined spur and beveled gear journalled upon the main frame, a conveyor having a drive shaft, a beveled gear carried by said shaft n'icshing with the aforesaid beveled gear, a yoke by which the conveyor is supported at one end upon said combined gear, an elevator' drive shaft journalled upon the hood and having each end extendingtherebeyond, an elevator having the discharge end extending into the hood and mounted upon said drive shaft to discharge into the conveyor, and common driving means including a gear on one end of the elevator shaft and a pinion on the other, and drive means for transmitting motion from said pinion to the spur teeth of said combined gear, and means by which said yoke is swivelly mounted upon the combined gear so that the conveyor may be radially turned independently of other mechanism.

8. A mining machine having a main frame, supporting means mounted thereon comprising a hood, an elevator having the discharge end extending beneath the hood, a drive shaft upon which said end ofy the elevator is mounted, a conveyor into which the eleva-tor discharges, a drive shaft upon which the conveyor is mounted, a yoke by which said shaft is carried, a combined spur and beveled gear revolubly mounted upon the main frame, a gear on the conveyor drive shaft meshing with the bevel gear of said double gear, common drive means for both the elevator and conveyor having a shaft having a spur pinion meshing with the spur gear of said double gear, and means by which the double gear is held in place upon the main frame and upon which said yoke has swivel mounting permitting turning of the conveyor while in operation independently of other mechanism.

9. A mining machine. having a main frame including a plate constituting a bearing, a combined spur and bevel gear resting upon said plate, a conveyor having a drive shaft -at one end, a gear carried by said shaft meshing with the bevel gear of said combined gear, means by which the free end of' the conveyor is supported, a yoke in which the drive shaft is journaled and upon which the conveyor is vertically movable by adjusting said supporting means, and means including a king bolt bywhich both the yoke and combined gears are held in place upon said bearing plate, said yoke being horizontally turnable in respect to the combined gear while the latter' revolves -upon said plate.

10. A niining machine having a main frame composed of longitudinal channels, a turn table plate affixed to the channels, a bearing plate affixed to the .channels concealing the turn table plate, a conveyor havii Y a drive shaft, a yoke in which the shaft is journaled, a gear on said shaft, a large gear having bearing on said bearing plate and providing a support for the yoke, a truck having a complementary turn table plate, roller bearings situated between the turn table plates, and means including a king bolt securing various of the foregoing' parts together, providing a swivelmount-- ing for the yoke, holding the large gear in place on the bearing plate and keeping the turn table plates together.

ll. A mining machine having an elevator, means including cables for raising and lowh ering the elevator, means including a head piece to which the cables have common connection, means including a screw for moving the head piece and thereby either pull or relax on the cables, and means for guiding the movement of the head piece.

l2. A mining machine. having a hood, an elevator pivotally mounted on the hood, and means on top of the hood for raising and lowering the elevator, said means comprising a head piece, a vscrew shaft having threaded engagementwith the head piece and having means for turning the screw shaft Vto move the head piece, a cross piece upon which the screw has swivel mounting, guide rods carried by the movable head piece and extending through apertures in the cross piece, said guide rods having eyes, cables attached to the eyes and to the elevator, and pulleys mounted upon the hood over which the cables pass.

HARRY LUTE GROl/V. 

